William fischer



(No Model.)4

W. FISCHER.

HAME.

l/m/Ef/ ron' y Wl TNESSES gi/Wm 4 Tron/VSM* NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM FISCHER, OF STEPNEY, CONNECTICUT.

HAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,318, dated January 8, 1895.

i Application filed September 26, 1894. Serial No. 524,210. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FISCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stepney, county of Fairfield, and State the figures.

This invention relates to hames, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, readily constructed and perfectly operating device which may be adjusted at top and bottom to fit the size of collar on which it is used,

which will be elastic or slightly yielding at the upper and lower ends, and readily renewable from time to time, and which may be `quickly fastened and unfastened.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevation, partially in section, of two hames constructed and fastened according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper metallic securing strip. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken upon the line ac-, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one portion of the fastener. Y

In the practice of my invention, I construct two hames A, of the usual or any approved shape, preferably of wood, as shown, and upon the exteriorof each of the same at the top and bottom I form grooves a. Upon the outside edge of the hames I secure metallic casings B, extending from the top of the hame to the bottom thereof, and having at each end lugs b, which are secured to the front and rear of the hames to secure the casings and maintain them immediately above the grooves a, in order that the said grooves will form slots, closed throughout, except at the top and bottom .edges respectively of the hames. Upon these casings B are formed y the usual loops C C through which the reins extend and the harne tugs are fastened.

The hames are joined at the top by means of a strip D, of spring metal or whale bone,v having slots c in either end thereof. These ends are inserted in the grooves a in the top of the hames, and are secured by means of screws CZ, which extend throughopenings e in the 'casings B, through the slots c in the strip D and into nuts fwhich are sunk in the hames immediately beneath each groove.- The heads d of the screws are flat on the under side and lit within the opening e, thereby bearing upon the strip D, and the length of the slots c at each end of the strip permits the said strip to be held by the screw at any desired depth in the groove below the said screw.

The hames are secured together at the bottom by means of strips E and E', of similar material to the strip D, each having formed therein slots c, through which, when the strips are inserted in the grooves c., the screws d pass and extend into the nutsf, thereby adjustably securing the said strips E and E in similar manner to the strip D. The strip E has in the' free end thereof a slot g, extending wholly across the same, and having at each side thereof approximately triangular guide pieces or shoulders h lapping over to form a strip h. The strip E is appreciably Vlonger than the strip E, and the end thereof is doubled over to form a latch or hook E2, of such size as to fit within the slot g and engage therewith, and having at therear thereof the extension E3, which when pressed releases the said latch from engagement with the slot.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.V The hames having been placed in position upon the collar, the ends of the strip D are inserted in the grooves a in the top of the hames, the screws d inserted in the openings e, through the slot o into the nuts f, the

strip then adjusted to cause the hames to strips are then brought together, the shoulders h and the strip or roof h thereof guiding the ends of the strip E to such position that the latch E2 engages in the slot g, whereupon the strips E and E are adjusted in simi- IOO lar manner to that before described until the hames t the collars snugly.

When the haines have once been adjusted the same may be removed and reapplied by the simple releasing and snapping together of the engaging ends of the strips E and E', and :it Will be seen that by this construction not only may the haines be caused to t'alrnost any size or shape of collar, and are strong and cheap of manufacture, but also when the fastenings wear out, others are easily substituted, and the life of the hames prolonged.

The advantages resultant from the use of my invention will be manifest to all who are conversant with the general class of devices to which the same appertains. I do not con- :ne myself to the exact formation of parts or details of construction herein set forth and illustrated.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a pair of llames having longitudinal grooves therein at top and bottom, and apertures in the exterior thereof entering said grooves, and nuts inserted in said haines at the base of the grooves in alignment with said apertures, of a strip of spring metal having longitudinal slots in the ends thereof entering the grooves in the top of the hannes, screws having their heads inserted through the apertures in the hames and projecting through the slots in the strip into the nuts below, spring metallic strips sliding in the grooves in the bottom of the haines slotted at the rear and similarly secured by screws passing therethrough, one of the strips having a slot in the end thereof extending across the same, and upwardly projecting guides at either side thereof, and the opposite strip being bent upon itself to form a spring latch engaging in the said slots and having a rear extension by which it is released, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a pair of hames comprising wooden bodies having exterior grooves therein at top and bottom, metallic nuts sunk beneath the grooves, metallic casings upon the outside of the lhannes having lugs at each end thereof secured to the said llames, the said casings carrying the rein and haine-tug loops, of a strip of spring metal having longitudinal slots in the ends thereof entering the grooves in the top of the haines, whereby the same is adjustable, screws having fiat heads, passing through the casings,

the slots in the strip, and into the nuts below, the said heads of the screw bearing upon the strip, whereby the same is firmly held by the said screws, spring metallic strips sliding in the grooves in the bottom of the haines, slotted at the rear and similarly secured by screws passing therethrough, one of the strips having aslot in the end thereof extending across the same, and upwardly extending guides at each side thereof, and the opposite strip being bent upon itself to form a spring latch engaging in the said slot and having a rear extension by which it is released, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of September, 1894. I

' WILLIAM FISCHER.

Witnesses: l

PERCY T. GRIFFITH, EMMA HARPER. 

